Off Roading New Toy!!! KTM 690 R PICS!!!!!

[macdaddy]

When commuting, I usually got 58-62mpg. But my bike is 609cc with an Edlbrock carburetor vs. your 654cc FI model. I think the fuel mileage would be pretty close and you should be able to go at least 150 miles/tank.

Close.....



It looks like it's averaging 50. 1 MPG. Now it was a pretty steady pull to Washington Pass with speeds ranging from 55-65 (Break In) with one quick bolt to 100 MPH (while passing).



The low fuel warning light came on after 140 miles. I'm not sure how many more miles it will go once it comes on, but I did notice the trip meter begins a new count down to help you with the distance you've gone while on reserve. Pretty cool.



I carried an extra one gallon can in my day pack just in case (I won't be needing that again. It's out in the shop with the oil draining over night and the oil pump suction screens removed, and both filters. KTM has really built a good one with respect to ease of maint.



The fkn thing really drew a crowd in front of the pizza parlor while in Winthrop. Here are some pics near Diablo Lake near the half way point.



Mac

 

[moonranch]

Mac,
Your mileage was a little lower than I would have guessed, but my commute averages about 45mph with about 9 miles of dirt road, and your bike isn't broken in yet. I didn't think about those things in my last post. Wow! a low fuel light, how nice. I have to wait for mine to start sputtering, then quickly turn the petcock. Maybe it is about time I got a "modern" bike.

 

[Matt400]

What is the seat height on that bad boy!? Cool views in that area.

 

[macdaddy]

Mac,

Your mileage was a little lower than I would have guessed, but my commute averages about 45mph with about 9 miles of dirt road, and your bike isn't broken in yet. I didn't think about those things in my last post. Wow! a low fuel light, how nice. I have to wait for mine to start sputtering, then quickly turn the petcock. Maybe it is about time I got a "modern" bike.

No pet cock on this thing. Just a fuel pump similar to a lift pump on a 2nd gen.



You're right about the break in to. I was told it could take up to 1000 miles. I finished the oil change this morning man what a breeze.



Thank God



Mac

 

[macdaddy]

What is the seat height on that bad boy!? Cool views in that area.

Hey matt in not sure of the seat height but im sure it's close to your huskey.



Oh and by the way this seat is stiffer than a preachers prick. I have to get a after market one soon. I'd have to say 300 miles with the stocker is the limit for one day.



Mac

 

[sarj]

what year is that?

 

[Matt400]

what year is that?

It might be an 09, I was checking it out here:

690 Enduro R - Offroad Competition EXC - Models - Models & Accessories - KTM.com - Ready to Race

 

[Matt400]

Hey matt in not sure of the seat height but im sure it's close to your huskey.



Oh and by the way this seat is stiffer than a preachers prick. I have to get a after market one soon. I'd have to say 300 miles with the stocker is the limit for one day.



Mac

I was at 38" and lowered the bike 1", just too tall for woods. Preachers prick huh. . Don't want to know how hard that is :-laf

 

[macdaddy]

what year is that?

It's an 09 690"R"... ... .

 

[macdaddy]

I was at 38" and lowered the bike 1", just too tall for woods. Preachers prick huh. . Don't want to know how hard that is :-laf

This thing is doable for woods single track, but id rather use the YZF 450 for the tight sht.



I have a couple of ideas for a seat, but will still use the stocker for offroading.



Mac

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

A 450 for tight woods? Keep in mind the region of the country your talking about - east coast tight woods and west coast tight woods are two different things. Around here VERY few people will ride 450's in our tight stuff - they are way too heavy and a handful to ride. I can't imagine riding your 690 on any of the single track in this state. The biggest bike I've ever seen on the trail was a 525 and he was hating life. I just rode in the Loose Moose AMA national sunday and the vast majority of the bikes there were 2 strokes. 70% of the guys I trail ride with ride KTM 200 2 strokes. I wouldn't consider anything over a 250 2 or 4 stroke for our tight stuff. My crew saw a guy from california that came to race the national that 22 miles in at the first gas stop threw his bike on the ground and told his wife they were packing up because he said there weren't two trees in michigan further apart than this (holding is hands about 2 1/2 feet apart. He had full width bars which make it a nightmare around here - most of us cut a full 3 inches off our handlebars to be able to fit through and even at that sometimes you can't fit.

 

[fest3er]

My Suksuzi DR650 dualsport is great on pavement (it's the Cadillac of dirt bikes, some say), ver' nice on gravel and dry dirt. Wet dirt or mud? Fuggedaboudit; it just pivots on the fore-aft axis and goes down quicker than (grass) through a goose. Up in WI near Eagle River, I was riding with a friend on some trails. It went down the one hill very nicely. Trail was a deep-ish, narrow, rocky rut (3"-6" rocks, IIRC). Down the trail, there was a tree down, far larger than we could possibly coolie the bike across. Back we went. Friend's DR350 eased up the hill like it was flat. Thirteen tries and none of us could get my bike all the way up the hill; I shoulda just put it in 1st and redlined it; but I wasn't wearing dirt-biking gear (this was supposed to be just a Sunday drive in the woods). The last time, I stopped the bike and pushed it the rest of the way (and they pulled).

The heavier (Cadge-ah-muh-lacs) dual-sports are great on road, and they are great offroad when the trails and conditions are 'civilised'. But one should never mistake a heavy dual-sport for a dirt bike, East or West. A middle-weight dual-sport might be more forgiving, and a lightweight dual-sport can almost be tossed around the trail like a dirt bike. But a heavy? An M1A1 with armor and treads replaced with tires and sheet metal might fare better blasting through the woods.

But I still wouldn't trade my 650. Well, maybe if I found something similar but with a comfortable seat.

Break the engine in well according to the mfr's specs, and you'll get years of fun riding out of the bike. Oh, I did put a slightly smaller front sprocket in; I wanted a lower 1st, and it still just tops 100MPH if I want it to.

 

[Matt400]

I have heard out those east coast rides, we cut our bars in CA too but some of the events need more displacement for the whooped out 200-300 yard hill climbs that open up out of the brush, at the top its a fast section across the ridge and then back down the same stuff sometimes for a mile or more before hitting the 2nd gear twisties.



I really like my Husky but my KTM250EXC was a better performer. Sometimes I wish I would have bought the 450. Mac's 690 would be awesome for dual sport rides out here.

At the Enduro's I hardly ever see a 2 stroke anymore and its orange plastic everywhere!

 

[Matt400]

Friend's DR350 eased up the hill like it was flat.

I hear those are a good "do-all" bike, does "no single" thing good just like my ole XR400 but hangs ok at what ever you throw at it.

On my Honda I could ride it to work, play off road, ride an Enduro or Dual Sport and thats what I did with it from 96-2003 and I still miss that porker.



I like Mac's 690, I could drop the Enduro thing and do the rest on that Bad Boy!

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

At the Enduro's I hardly ever see a 2 stroke anymore and its orange plastic everywhere!

A whole lotta orange here too - my next bike will be orange too. I was going through the photo album from the photographer that was at last weekends race looking for my photos and out of curiosity I counted up the bikes 2 st vs 4 st (most of the enduro's even around here the 4 strokes are at least even with the 2's now - this one was tighter than most). I counted 135 two strokes and 64 four strokes - four of the pros were even on 2 strokes. Real hard to beat a 2 stroke when the going gets truly tight. The event was won by Russell Bobbitt on a 2 stroke btw

 

[Matt400]

Steve. . The 2 smokes are way out numbered here but only due to emissions cuz they are hella fast.



Dang Mac, just took the full tour at KTM 690 Enduro and I was dancing in my chair! wife was wondering what the heck is up!

 

[macdaddy]

A 450 for tight woods? Keep in mind the region of the country your talking about - east coast tight woods and west coast tight woods are two different things. Around here VERY few people will ride 450's in our tight stuff - they are way too heavy and a handful to ride. I can't imagine riding your 690 on any of the single track in this state. The biggest bike I've ever seen on the trail was a 525 and he was hating life. I just rode in the Loose Moose AMA national sunday and the vast majority of the bikes there were 2 strokes. 70% of the guys I trail ride with ride KTM 200 2 strokes. I wouldn't consider anything over a 250 2 or 4 stroke for our tight stuff. My crew saw a guy from california that came to race the national that 22 miles in at the first gas stop threw his bike on the ground and told his wife they were packing up because he said there weren't two trees in michigan further apart than this (holding is hands about 2 1/2 feet apart. He had full width bars which make it a nightmare around here - most of us cut a full 3 inches off our handlebars to be able to fit through and even at that sometimes you can't fit.

I agree with you Steve.....



Im still in Wa St the most popular bikes up here are in fact Two Strokes. KTM 3 honies, TM and so on. The 300's being the most seen, both KTM, and TM's. Gas Gas as well.



The 450's work really well in the SW single track in so cal the Piutes to mention one is pretty wide open. I love the single track but catching my left leg on an occasional root just trashes my left hip (Arthritis).



Mac

 

[macdaddy]

Steve. . The 2 smokes are way out numbered here but only due to emissions cuz they are hella fast.



Dang Mac, just took the full tour at KTM 690 Enduro and I was dancing in my chair! wife was wondering what the heck is up!

Matt... ...

Take the plunge... ..... the twisties here behind my inlaws place are cool. I plan on getting the Super Moto tires and wheels complete with rotors,sprockets and tires for a quick swap.



The torque from this fkn thing while exiting turns is a blast, roll on the throttle and have a ball... .



Mac

 

[MickeyMiller]

Torque exiting turns? You ought to try my 1485cc Buel S-1... . shifting is optional!

 

[moonranch]

At the Enduro's I hardly ever see a 2 stroke anymore and its orange plastic everywhere!

Well I must be "odd man out" when it comes to KTM riders. Neither of mine is orange, and my enduro IS a 2-stroke.